Newsletter

Cats work on 'everything' in bye week

Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein, right, breaks away from Eastern Kentucky defensive lineman Jasper Williams during the second half of the Sept. 3 game in Manhattan. Kansas State defeated Eastern Kentucky 10-7.

MANHATTAN — Collin Klein said it all with one appropriate word.

Asked what Kansas State worked on during its bye week, the junior quarterback was as direct as a slant-pattern strike.

“Everything,” he said.

Yep, the Wildcats spotted a myriad of mistakes in their season-opening 10-7 win against FCS foe Eastern Kentucky.

Klein and his offensive teammates have been as busy as anyone trying to correct them during the past 10 days. The Wildcats often were their own worst enemy against EKU, committing five turnovers (four fumbles and an interception) and failing to score for more than 49 minutes.

“Across the board we made so many little errors and we were well-coordinated enough to spread them out over the entire course of the game,” said Klein, who completed 13 of 21 passes for 128 yards and atoned for many of the team’s shortcomings by hitting Chris Harper for a game-winning 33-yard touchdown.

With a road game at Miami just a week and a half away and the start of the Big 12 campaign immediately following that, the Wildcats have felt a sense of urgency to find answers during this two-week stretch leading up to Saturday’s 6 p.m. home kickoff against Kent State (0-2).

“Absolutely,” Klein said. “Every day, you don’t get it back. Every practice, you don’t get back. Every snap, you don’t get back.

“You can’t say we’re going to fix it tomorrow because tomorrow may be game day. We’ve got to take advantage of the opportunities we have.”

That especially holds true for K-State’s inexperienced offensive line, a unit that entered the season as a question mark and is an even bigger one now. The increased uncertainty stems from a season opener that resulted in an injury to starting center Shaun Simon and a number of changes to the depth chart.

Among them:

■ Redshirt freshman B.J.Finney, a 6-foot-4, 297-pounder from Andale, moves over from his right guard spot to replace Simon at center.

■ Junior transfer Nick Puetz, a Southeast of Saline product who spent two years at Coffeyville Community College and briefly attended Wyoming, will replace Keenan Taylor as starting left guard.

■ Senior Colten Freeze will occupy the guard position previously held by Finney.

■ Junior Jordan Allred returns to the offense after moving to defense during spring drills. Allred will back up Freeze at right guard.

“They work diligently at what they do,” coach Bill Snyder said of the linemen. “They have some progress to make, but they are so youthful that every day is a new experience for them and they are getting acclimated to it.

“They are intelligent young people and it is a matter of taking what you learn in the classroom to the field and replicating it time and time again. The more repetitions they get the better they become.”

“We’re all pretty close as a unit, so we all should be comfortable with everyone playing beside us,” he said. “It doesn’t matter who’s going to play beside me because I know they have my back.”

The freshman is equally confident he will fill in quite capably for Simon.

“I’ve been moved around the whole offensive line, so I pretty much know the whole offensive line,” he said. “It’s not really an uncomfortable switch when they move me.

“Being a center, I command the whole offensive line. Guys do their assignments off of my assignment. In a way, you’re the general of the offense, and I’m comfortable with it.”

Just how comfortable? Consider this: When asked if that meant he would get to boss the other linemen around a bit, Finney broke into a grin.

“A little bit,” he said. “A freshman bossing around seniors …”

He never finished the thought. Then again, he didn’t have to. His fist pump said it all.

Linebacker Emmanuel Lamur and safety Tysyn Hartman both suffered minor injuries in the opener, but Snyder said both would play Saturday against Kent State.

Hartman attended the weekly news conference later in the afternoon and declared himself healthy after being dinged on a punt return.

Running back Bryce Brown also is believed to be healthy after suffering a minor injury against EKU, but how much the sophomore will play this week remains a mystery.

Snyder said John Hubert continues to hold the No. 1 running back position and Angelo Pease is the backup. Asked how much Brown would see the field, Snyder said, “I have no idea.”

Brown, the highly touted Wichitan who transferred to K-State from Tennessee, gained 16 yards on three carries in the opener, but he fumbled deep in his own territory to set up EKU's only score.

Curry Sexton, a freshman from Abilene who entered the season as a redshirt candidate, played on special teams in the opener and has moved up the depth chart to co-No. 2 receiver behind starter Brodrick Smith.

“The idea is that he will get on the field and see a decent amount of time,” Snyder said.

Sexton, who learned he would play about 48 hours before the EKU game, said he gladly would have accepted a redshirt year but was thrilled to experience his first collegiate game at Snyder Family Stadium.

“For the most part, last Saturday was pretty much a dream come true,” he said. “I mean, running out on the field was everything I had hoped for, and obviously getting a win was even better.”

Former K-State defensive back Jon McGraw is expected to assume additional duties for the Kansas City Chiefs now that Eric Berry is out for the year with an ACL injury, and Snyder believes the 10-year pro will do just fine.

“Jon can handle anything,” Snyder gushed, adding that his former player has a tremendous work ethic and comes from a solid family.

McGraw came to K-State as a walk-on in 1997 but became a starter and honorable mention All-Big 12 player by his junior season. He has played for three NFL teams and been with the Chiefs since 2007.

“He’s got a wealth of experience there and he’s a disciplined player who’s where he’s supposed to be when he’s supposed to be there,” Snyder said.